NALFO Hosts Eventful Fall Business Meeting in Anaheim recognizing 2018 – 2019 Award Winners

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 10, 2019

Contact:
Vice President of Member Services, Sara Blanco
memberservices@nalfo.org

This weekend NALFO closed its Fall Business Meeting in Anaheim, CA which included a celebratory Awards Luncheon. The eventful meeting was held from December 6 – 7, 2019 in conjunction with the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors (AFA) Annual Meeting. National headquarters staff and leadership from NALFO’s 16 member organizations gathered to review legislation, hold elections for two of its four Executive Board positions, and discuss pressing topics pertaining to our communities.

The weekend began on Friday when NALFO had the privilege of being inducted into the AFA Foundation’s Williamsburg Giving Society for raising a minimum of $5,000 towards the NALFO Unity Endowment. Later that afternoon NALFO proudly supported Dr. Melissa Abeyta who presented on “Comunidad y Unidad: Engaging & Validating Latinx Students”, a program brought to the AFA Annual Meeting through the NALFO Unity Endowment.

On Saturday NALFO held elections for the President and Vice President of Finance roles. We are pleased to announce the election of two new Executive Board members to begin their terms on February 1, 2020:

• Incoming President, Elizaveta ReyesTomé of Omega Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., will follow outgoing President, Francisco M. Lugo of Phi Iota Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
• Incoming Vice President of Finance, Michelle Maday of Alpha Psi Lambda National, Inc., will follow outgoing Vice President of Finance, Elizaveta ReyesTomé

They will be joined by current Exec Board members, Sara Blanco, Vice President of Member Services, and Scarlett Alonzo, Executive Vice President. NALFO thanks outgoing President Francisco, lovingly known as Pancho, for his service to NALFO!

Following elections, members and guests celebrated the winners of the 2018 – 2019 NALFO Awards during a luncheon. The evening culminated when NALFO co-hosted a reception alongside CAMPUSPEAK, the University of South Florida, and Omega Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. honoring the AFA’s 2019 recipient of the Dr. Robert H. Shaffer Award and former NALFO Vice Chair, Dr. Mónica Lee Miranda.

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The winners of the 2018 – 2019 NALFO Awards are:

Undergraduate Excellence Award
Janel S. Ramos, Omega Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. (ΩΦΒ)
In recognition of an undergraduate member who has demonstrated excellence in the following categories: Academic Achievement, Leadership Excellence, Community Service, Commitment to the Latino Greek Community.

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Campus Leadership Excellence Award
Janel S. Ramos, Omega Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. (ΩΦΒ)
In recognition of an undergraduate who has demonstrated their commitment to their organization, University Campus and the Latino Greek Community through their service in leadership positions in their organization, campus and/or the Latino Greek Community as a whole.

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Undergraduate Philanthropist of the Year Award
Daniel Ruano, La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, Inc. (ΛΥΛ)
In recognition of an undergraduate who has successfully integrated philanthropy as part of their everyday life through continual contribution and participation to philanthropic events.

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Organizational Leadership Award
Jane M. Vega, Omega Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. (ΩΦΒ)
In recognition of an alumnus/alumna who has demonstrated their commitment to their organization and the Latino Greek Community through their service in leadership positions in their organization or the Latino Greek Community as a whole.

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Rising Professional Award
Jahqué Bryan-Gooden, Omega Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. (ΩΦΒ)
In recognition of aspiring professionals or entrepreneurs (graduated less than 5 years ago) who embody the standards of the Latino Greek Community through their professional accomplishments and community involvement.

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Professional of the Year Award
Cindy Chu, Omega Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. (ΩΦΒ)
In recognition of established professionals or entrepreneurs (graduated at least 5 years ago) who embody the standards of the Latino Greek Community through their professional accomplishments and community involvement.

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Chapter Advisor of the Year Award
Kimberly Lopez, Omega Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. (ΩΦΒ)
In recognition of a college/university professional or a NALFO member alumnus who supports the standards of the Latino Greek Community through their professional accomplishments as a NALFO fraternity/sorority chapter advisor.

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Philanthropic Excellence – Undergraduate Chapter Award
Beta Upsilon Chapter, Stevens Institute of Technology,
Omega Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. (ΩΦΒ)
In recognition of an Undergraduate Chapter which has successfully integrated philanthropy as part of their annual programming and events.

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Philanthropic Excellence – Alumni/Graduate Chapter Award
Alpha Mu Chapter, Los Angeles Alumnae Collective
Omega Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. (ΩΦΒ)
In recognition of an Alumni Chapter which has successfully integrated philanthropy as part of their annual programming and events.

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Undergraduate Chapter of the Year Award
Xi Chapter, Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis, Gamma Phi Omega International Sorority, Inc. (ΓΦΩ)
In recognition of an undergraduate chapter who has demonstrated excellence in the following categories (all must be covered in application): Academic Achievement; Leadership Excellence; Community Service; Chapter Integrity; Commitment to the Latino Greek Community.

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Alumni/Graduate Chapter of the Year Award
Oklahoma City Alumnae Chapter, Kappa Delta Chi Sorority, Inc. (ΚΔΧ)
In recognition of an alumni chapter who has demonstrated excellence in the following categories (all must be covered in application): Community Service; Quality of programming for alumni members; Commitment to the Latino community as a whole.

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National Philanthropic Organization of the Year Award
Omega Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. (ΩΦΒ)
In recognition of an organization who has demonstrated excellence in the following categories (all must be covered in application): Promoting of community service and philanthropic endeavors at the National level; Participation of community service outside of their respective organization; Proven success of national community service programming; Participation in NALFO philanthropic events.

For photographs of NALFO’s Award Winners, follow our social media accounts on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook using the handle @OfficialNALFO.

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The National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations (NALFO) is a coalition of 16 Latina/o/x-based sororities and fraternities in the United States. NALFO exists to unite and empower its Latino organizations and their communities through advocacy, cultural awareness, and organizational development while fostering positive inter fraternal relationships and collaborating on issues of mutual interest.